Machine for making terra-cotta blocks



Feb. 5 1924.

M. E. GATES MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA GOTTA BLOCKS Filed July 6 i920 7 .SheetS-Sh 2 Feb. 5, 1924.

' M. E. GATES www@ MACHINE FOR MAKINGTERRA GOTTA BLOCKS Filed July e 1920 7' Sheets-Shed: 3

Feb. 5 19240 Lgl@ A M. E, GATES MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA GOTTA BLOCKS Filed July e, 192 y sheets-sheet 4 y MMM@ fw MWL Feb. 5 s

MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA GOTTA BLOCKS Filed July 6, 1920 f Sheets-Sheet 5 @wwf Febo 5 Q n,

. M. E. GATES MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA GOTTA ,BLOCKS Filed July e, 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet figo?" E. @raf/@Qi Feb. 5 1924 www@ M. EGM-Es MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA GOTTA BLOCKS Filed July', 1920 7 shee'-sheet `7 gri, fm #ma Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

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MAJOR E. GATES, OF TERRA GOTTA, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TERRA-GOTTA BLOCKS.

Application mea July 6,

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAJOR E. Gams, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terra Cotta, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in a Machine for Making Terra-Cotta Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to molding machines and is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of terra cotta blocks.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a means for quickly and efliciently forcing a plastic mass intimately into contact with a mold.

Another object is to provide a machine which will accomplish this object and which at the same time permits of the use of molds of relatively fragile material.

Another object is to provide a molding machine which is as nearly automatic in its operation as possible,

These and other objects as will appear are accomplished by this invention which is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawino in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the mo ding machine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l, showing one of the doors in elevated position; Fig. 4l is a similar partial section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l showing` the horizontal shaft and gears in a position corresponding with that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation of the two horizontal shafts at the sides of the machine showing` the automatic take-up mechanism for equalizing the pressure on the tube; Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing this equalizing mechanism in detail; Fig. 7 is a detail of the trip mechanism for operating the valve cam shaft; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the head with valves therein; Fig. 9 is a partial vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. l() is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the molding machine showing the mechanism for feeding. the molds thereto and for removing the molds therefrom; Fig. ll is an enlarged `transversed section on the line 1l`11 of Fig. l0; Fig. l2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a detail of a retaining pawl; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing a continuation of the mechanism for removing the. molds from the molding machine and 1920. Serial No. 394,177.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged plan View of the mechanism for feeding the molds to the molding machine as shown in Fig. 10.

This invention is embodied in a machine consisting essentially of an enlarged chamber 20 having doors 21 at each end which may be opened and closed, for the introduc tion of the molds. `With these doors closed an explosive mixture of air and fuel such as gasoline or gas is introduced into the chamber and ignited as will later be explained, thereby producing a pressure which causes the clay or other plastic material to be forced intimately into the molds.

The main casting 20 is carried upon foundations 22 and 23 and has a series of lugs 24 at each side thereof in which are loosely journaled shafts 25 and 26 at each side of the main casting. These shafts project at both ends beyond the main casting 20 and support the hollow gaskets 27 and the end yokes 28. The doors 21 are mounted to slide up and down between the gaskets 27 and the end yolres 28 and contact rollers 29 which are mounted upon the upper shafts 25. These doors are quite heavy and are carried by guide rods 2l:L which pass through a suitable guide 30 and are connected by a flexible member (not shown) with counter weights. The counter weight, however, is not as heavy as the door itself so that the door tends at all times to move to a closed position.

The shafts 25 and 26 are rotated first in one direction, and then in the opposite direction so as to accomplish two things as will herein be explained, namely, raising and lowering the doors 2l and drawing the end yolres 28 up against the doors so as to produce a close joint therebetween during the explosion of the combustible mixture.

On each of the shafts 26 are loosely mounted the two opposing split arms 3l which have rollers 32 mounted at their extremities and upon which roll the doors 2l. It will be noted that the lower outer edges 2lb at the hottom of these doors are inclined somewhat toward the center so as to start the arms in as the door moves downward. A pin 33 passes through each of the arms 3l and is adapted to be engaged by the fingers 34 which are carried on the plates 35 and which in turn are keved to the shaft 26.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the shafts 25 and 26 have gears 36 and 37 keyed thereto, both of which engageV the. racks 38.

At each end of thelo'ng` slot 41 is a block 42u. behind y whichv is placed aispring 421. These provide a steadybut yiel'ding'pressifrewonft-he pin 40 and end 'on 'the shafts 25ans 26." e

vEach ofthe fourshaftsh25 and 26 is provided. with a right hand screw thread at one end and a left hand screw thread at the other asA shown in, F ig 5, the right hand threads areplaced at the left hand of these k shafts asshown in Fig. and are threaded intonuts 47s which are secured in the left hand end yoke 28 in such a way as to prevent ,them from turning. Left hand nuts 48fare threaded upon the opposite end ofthel l shafts and 26 and have circular grooves 49 in which are placed set screws 50 so as to permit these nuts to turn in the right hand end yoke 28 but whichj at the same timefare'prevented' from moving endwise therein. The shafts 2.5t and 26t on the opposite sideof the machine arel of course made the reverse of this. I

AlsA shown in Fig. 6 a lever 5l vis secured to each of the nuts 48 land these levers are adjustably` and .hingedly secured to each other by means of linksand a turn buckle 52.v AV spring 53 tends to maintain both sets in the jjiosition shown in Fig. 6. By adjusting the turn buckle 52 the bearing yofthe door v2l at the top and bottom may Ibe changed so as to make them bearequally while the springs 42b provide an automatifally equalizing means whereby thepressure applied by the shaft at the two sides of the molding machine will be equalized.

The upper part of the main casting 20 is closed bymeans of a cover or head 54 as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 9 in which are a plurality of holes 55 which are normally closed by poppet valves 56. These openings communicate withthe passage 57 which in turn Vcommunicates with the pipe 58 with a large air reservoir (not shown) which is maintained under a suitable air pressure.

A fuel reservoir 59 has a fuel nozzle (not shown)v leading therefrom and communicating with the passage 57 in a well known manner. Fuel is supplied to the reservoir 5f? through a pipe 59c and the level therein maintained in any Well known way.

Thevalves 56 have valve rods 56a which extend vertically through the head and are connected in pairs by means of straps 56h.

An oscillating memberv 56cv fis v`pivot'ally connected at one end to the'centerA of each of these straps and has a bifurcated lower end which is slida-ble `upon a horizontal shaft 60 which is journalled in bearings carried by the head 54. The shaft 6() has a cam 60a corresponding to" each pair of valves on which thereV isa roller 6l which is journalled upon a pin carried by the member 56C. Thus, it will'be seen,`that as the shaft 60 is revolved the' cam 60a will' cause the valves 56 to be alternately raised and lowered. 4

A belt pulley 62o having a braketlange 62a and a hub 62b as'shown inF ig. 7 is jour-v nalled on the outer 4end of the shaft 60. This pulley is driven at ay high rate of speed preferably about 600 revolutions per minute by a belt from anysuitable source of power such as an electric motor. A spider 63 is keyed tothe shaft 60 and carries a brake band 64 one end of which is secured to the spider :at 65,v the opposite end being adjustably and pivotally secured to a ger 66 which is keyed on a shaft 67 which is journalled in the spider 63. The opposite end of the shaft67 haskeyedy thereon a lever 68 which is pressed by a spring 69 which constantly tends to tightenthe brake band 64 about the brake drum 62a. v

A pawl 70 is hingedly mounted on a` pin 71 which is carried by the main casting 54. This pawlhas a shoulder 72 which normally engages the finger 66 thus preventing the shaft 59 from turning except when the pawl 70 is released. as will later be eX- plained. This pawl is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 7 by the rodV 73 and the spring 74. The stop 75 limits the upper swing of this pawl. s

The pawl 70carries a pin 76 on which is hingedly mounted atrip finger 77 which is normally held against the stop 78 by a spring 79.` This trip linger has an eXtension 80 which projects beyond the shoulder 72 so as to engage the linger 66 after ithas been released by the shoulder 72. The'trip finger also has a sharp shoulder 81 which engages the end of a trip lever 82 whichis pivotally mounted on the pin 7l. A lever 83 is secured to the trip lever 82 andbonnects through a link 84 with the bell crank 85 which is pivotally mounted at 86. The opposite end of the bell crank 85 has an inclined surface 87 which lies in the path of the crank 44 and is engaged thereby as shown in Fig. l.

lt will be understood from the foregoing, therefore, that as the crank 44 revolves in a clock-wise direction, it will engage the in- L clined surface 8 7' forcing the'bell crank 85 andthe lever 83 to the 'right thereby swinging the operating' lever 82 as well as t-he pawl 70 abouty the pin 71 compressing the spring 74. The pawl 70 will continue to lOS lil)

swing downward until the shoulder 72 drops ofi' the lower end of the linger 66, when this finger will move to the left under the action oit' the spring 69, thereby ti htening a band 64 about the drum 62a. t the same time, the finger 66 will engage the extension of the trip lever 77 thereby causing it to move so that the shoulder 81 will swing out from beneath the end of the operating lever 82, thereby releasing the trip lever 77 and causing the pawl 70 to swing back to the position shown in Fig. 7, where it is again ready to engage the finger 66 as it completes its revolution about the shaft 60. Thus it will be seen that the shaft 60 is permitted to make but one revolution at each actuation7 The lever 82 is returned by the spring 83a and the spring 79 yields to permit this lever to pass and return to the position shown so as to be ready ttor the next tripping operation. The operating lever 82 is returned by means of the spring 83a to the stop 70a on the lever 70.

It will be understood that the actuation of the shaft 60 takes place after the doors 21 are closed and firmly tightened by means oi the shafts 25 and 26. On each revolution of this shaft the valves 56 are opened and a charge of air and fuel admited and the valves closed by means of the cam 60a. About the time these valves are closed the combustible charge is ignited by means of a jump spark from the spark plugs 85. This as stated before is accomplished by means of electric contacts (not shown) car ried by the shaft 60. Electrical contacts (not shown) are carried by the rod 21a and a stationary part of the main frame which form a part oir' the ignition circuit so that the charge can be ignited only when the doors are fully closed.

In order to make the doors 12 as nearly gas tight as possible, gaskets 27 are inserted between the doors and the end of the chamer 20L which are hollow as shown in Fig. 10. As the pressure within the chamber 20a suddenly rises due to the burning of the mixture, pressure within the hollow gaskets 27 causes its sides to spread, pressing out against and conforming more nearly to the doors 21 and the ends of the chamber 20a. lt will thus be seen that this gasket which expands un-der pressure materially assists in holding the pressure within the chamber and preventing leakage of gas around the doors.

The molds A are placed upon trays B and a re automatically moved to the molding machine by mechanism which will now be explained. While the molds A vary considerably in size and shape the trays B upon which the are carried must necessarily be of the same size, or at least of the same length. As shown in Fig. 10 these trays are made just a trifle shorter than the distance between the doors 21. Leading up to the molding machine is a run-way shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 15, consisting of parallel 'T-bars 88 which have parallel angle irons 89 spaced therebetween. The trays B which are preferably made up wth an angle iron frame are carried by these m-bare and angle irons as shown in Fig. 15. AL trame 90 is slidable between the angle irons 89 and has secured thereto and descending therefrom a member 91 to the lower end ci' which is secured a rod 92 the opposite end` ci which is fastened to the slide 93. The latter is carried upon suitable guides 94 and has at each side a pin 95 upon which it hingedly mounted a link 96 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an oscillating member 97 which is pivotally mounted at 98. This oscillating member is moved back and iorth by means of the wrist pin 43 on the crank 44 operating in a slot 97a therein. The frame 90 has pivoted thereto an actuating pawl 99 which is pivotally mounted at 100 which is normally held in the position shown by means of its weighted lower end 99a. The pawl 99 and associated parts are at the extreme right end of their throw. Weighted retaining pawls 101 are placed even therewith as shown in Fig. 10.

A means for moving the trays away 'from the molding machine is provided which consists of a chain 102 passing over sprockets 108 and 104 as shown in Figs. 10 and 14, and connected at its two ends to the slide 93. This slide is connected to the lower section of the chain so that the upper part ot the chain 102 and the pawl 99, move in opposite directions. Slides 102a are secured to the upper part ot the chain and slide under the trays as they are pushed from the molding machine. A retaining pawl 107 is provided as shown in Fig. 10 to prevent the tray at B from being pushed backwards and a pawl 10TH, Fig. 13 is carried by the trame '90 and comes even with 107 when the iframe is at its extreme position as shown in Fig. 10. The method of operation is as follows Molds are assembled upon the trays in the run-way at the right oi the machine as shown in Fig. 10. Slabs ot clay are then roughly fitted into the molds which are slid along the run-way, by hand until the tray is in the position B1 beyond the retaining pawl 101. W'ith the sha-tt 45 in operation the actuating pawl 99 drops as it passes to the right under the tray B1 until it is past that traf, at which time the weight causes it to move up behind the tray. As the rod 92 is then drawn to the left the actuating pawl 99 forces the tray El towards the molding machine. rThe mechanism for operating the doors 21 is so timed that these doors are now fully open and the tray together with a mold thereon is forced into the molding machine into a position B2. At the same time the A as previously explained thereby opening the valves 56 admitting a charge of air and co1nbustible fuel and closing. This charge 1s rthen ignited greatly increasing the pressure within the chamber 20 and forcing the clay into the molds more uniformly and carefully than can possibly be done by hand. The doors Q1 are again opened and the actuating pawl 99 forces the tray B1 forward until it strikes the tray B2 when both ci them are Yforced forward until the tray Bl occu pies the center ot' the molding machine in the position marked B2 and the one previously in the molding machine is forced forward on the chain 192. Before the doors drop the actuating pawl 99 pulls baclr from under them and at the same time the slide 102a which is moving in the opposite direction slides under the tray B3 and the next reverse movement oit the chain 10Q draws the tray to the position shown at B4; as the actuating pawl 99 is moved baci( ot the tray in the position B1 the chain 102 fui the same time moves forward with its tray until it is beyond the retaining pawl 105, to the position marked B4. The trays are then forced onto the run-way 106 where the mold ed block is carefully examined and trimmed. The mold is then opened and the molded block removed.

While have shown and described but a single embodiment ot my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable ot many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scopo ot the invention disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view oi' the prior art.

TWhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for pressing plastic materiai into molds comprising a chamber having an opening 'for the insertion ot the mold, means ior closing the opening, means for admittingy `gas to said chamber and means for suddenly increasing the pressure of said gas to force the plastic material into said mold.

2. A machine i'or pressing plastic material into molds comprising a chamber having an opening for the insertion of the mold, means for closing the opening, means for admitting a combustible mixture to said chamber and means for igniting said mixture to press the plastic material into said mold.

3. A machine for pressing plastic material into molds comprising a chamber having an opening for the insertion of the mold, means n us YFor closing the opening, means for admitting a combustible mixtureto said chamber, means for igniting said mixture to press the plastic material into' said mold, and means -for :forcing said molds into and out of said chamber.

4;. A machine for pressing plastic material into molds comprising a chamber having an opening ior the insertion of the mold, means V'for closing the'opening, means for admitting a combi'lstible mixture to said chamber. means for ignitingsaid mixture to press the plastic material into said mold, and means associated with the first mentioned means for forcing said molds into and out `of said chamber.

5. A machine for pressing plastic material into molds comprising a chamber having openingsat `opposite sides thereof, doors movable to close said openings, a valve for admittingr a combustible mixture to said chamber, means for igniting said mixture after said doors and valve are closed, means for inserting molds into the chamber thru one Vof said openings and means for withdrawing molds from the chamber thru the other openings.

6. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber, having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and extending along the sides of said doors and substan-l tially at right angles to the plane of said doors, yokes carried by said rods beyond said doors and means for drawing said yolres toward each other to clamp said doors over the openings.

7. ln combination, a hollow casting torming a chamber, having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings,rods suported by said casting and extending along the sides of said doors, and substantially at right angles to the plane of said doors, yolres carried by said rods beyond said doors, reverse screw threads on the opposite ends of said rods, nuts carried by the yolres and screwed on said rods, whereby when the rods are turned, the yokes draw the doors against the openings.

8. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber, having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and extending along the sides ot' said doors, means associated with said rods for exert-ing Vpressure on said doors, and means for equalizing the pressure on said doors.

9. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and 'extending along the sides of said doors and substantially at right angles to the plane of said doors, yokes carried by said rods beyond said doors, reverse screw threads on the ends i ,essere of said rods, nuts carried by the yolres and screwed on said rods, and arms movable by two of said rods to open and close said doors. l0. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and entending along the sides of said doors and substantially at right angles to the plane of said doors, yolres carried by said rods beyond said doors, reverse screw threads on the ends of said rods, nuts carried by the yokes and screwed on said rods, and means movable by two of said rods to open' and close said doors. 11. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and entending along the sides of said doors and substantially at right angles to the planes of said doors, yokes carried by said rods beyond said doors, means movable by two of said rods to open and close said doors and means operable by said rods Jfor clamping the doors.

l2. In combination, a hollow casting` forming a chamber having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and extending along the sides of said doors and substantially at right angles to the planes of said doors, yokes carried by said rods beyond said doors, means movable by two of said rods to open and close said doors and a yieldable gasket on the inner side of each door.

13. In combination, a hollow casting forming a chamber having openings at both ends, doors movable to close said openings, rods supported by said casting and extending along the sides of said doors and substantially at right angles to the planes oit said doors, yolres carried by said rods beyond said doors, means movable by two of said rods to open and close said doors and a gasket on the inner side of each door which is expansible by pressure within the chamber.

1 4. ln combination, a chamber having an opening, a closure for said opening and a hollow gasket, the interior of which communicates with the interior of said chamber, expansible by pressure within said chamber.

15. A. machine for pressing plastic material into molds comprising a chamber having an opening for the insertion of the molds, means for closing said opening, and means for subjecting the plastic material and mold to a suddenly directly applied gaseous pressure to force the plastic material into the mold.

16. The method of pressing plastic material into a mold consisting of placing the plastic material in the mold and subjecting the plastic material and mold to a suddenly directly applied gaseous pressure to Ji'orce the plastic material into the mold.

l?. The method of pressing plastic material into a mold consisting of placing the plastic material in the mold, placing said mold and plastic material within a coniined space, filling said confined space with a combustible mixture and igniting said mixture to force said plastic material into the mold.

lVlAJlt E GATES. 

